Goff-Crews appointed Vice President, Dean of Students

Kimberly Goff-Crews, currently Dean of Students at Wellesley College, has been appointed Vice-President and Dean of Students at the University by President Zimmer. Her appointment is effective July 1, 2007.

“Kim Goff-Crews brings the academic and student-life experience and the personal talents to thrive in the University of Chicago environment, which places a high value on rigorous inquiry and analysis,” said Zimmer. “We have exceptional students who will benefit from Kim’s leadership on a broad range of issues that shape the student experience at the University. We are delighted she will be joining us.”

At Chicago, Goff-Crews will be a member of the President’s Executive Staff and will provide leadership and strategic direction for services, and programs supporting graduate and College students’ academic success and personal development. She will oversee 350 staff members, while having direct responsibility for student life policies and managing multiple campus departments. She also will manage and plan budgeting in areas of student life and develop new services to address student interests and needs.

Under her supervision will be the Office of Career Advising and Planning Services, the University Community Service Center, Student Counseling and Resources Service, the Office of Graduate Affairs, Health Affairs, Campus Dining Services, the University House System, the Office of Minority Student Affairs, the Office of International Affairs, the Department of Physical Education and Athletics, the University Registrar, the Office of the Bursar, the Office of the Reynolds Club and Student Activities and the Office of Student Safety and Security.

“I am excited to be joining the University of Chicago community,” Goff-Crews said. “During my campus visits, I was impressed with the President’s leadership team, the energy and intelligence of the students and with the professionalism and dedication of the faculty and administrators at every level of the University. I look forward to the opportunity to build on Chicago’s current strengths and improve services to address the current and future needs of students.”

Goff-Crews was recommended by a search committee composed of undergraduate and graduate students, faculty members and administrators that worked since last spring in selecting candidates and conducting interviews.

Martha Roth, Deputy Provost and Professor in the Oriental Institute and Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations, served as Chair of the search committee, which Roth said reviewed more than 80 resumes.

“Kimberly Goff-Crews emerged head-and-shoulders above the rest. She is dynamic, capable, intelligent and extremely engaging,” Roth said. “She places a primacy on academic endeavors and will be a terrific voice for student affairs at the President’s table. She will be an advocate for all students in the College, the divisions and the professional schools.”

Other members of the search committee included Gregory Jackson, Vice-President & Chief Information Officer of the University; Donald Reaves, Vice-President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer; Gregory Hillhouse, Professor in Chemistry and the College; Susan Art, Dean of Students in the College; and Teresa Owens, Dean of Students and Lecturer in the Divinity School. Graduate student Phillip Venticinque and College student Michelle Lugalia also served on the committee.

A student advisory committee also played a key role in the search process, working with the search committee during the selection process, Roth noted.

“The search committee represented all areas of this community,” Roth said. “It was crucial because this is truly one of the most important and highly visible positions on our campus.”

During Goff-Crews’ tenure as Dean of Students at Wellesley College, she was responsible for 20 different departments that provided academic support and enriched campus life. She chaired the Academic Review Board and instituted a near- and longer-term priority-setting process and a new assessment review protocol for her division. She also worked closely with students on athletics, health, facilities and funding issues.

Prior to working at Wellesley, Goff-Crews worked at Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass., and at Yale University. She also was a practicing attorney in New York City. Goff-Crews received her B.A. in 1983 from Yale College; she also attended Yale Law School, graduating in 1986.

At Yale, she served as Assistant Dean from 1992 to 1998, directing several programs, including the Yale College Summer Programs, the Afro-American Cultural Center at Yale University, the freshman orientation, the Science, Technology and Research Scholars Program, the Yale College Tutoring Program and the Andrew W. Mellon/Edward Bouchet Fellowship Programs.

While at Lesley University, Goff-Crews served as Associate Dean-Assistant Professor in the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences from 1998 to 2000, as well as Acting Dean of that department during part of 2000. From 2000 to 2003, she was Chief of Staff and Director of Planning in the Office of the President.

Goff-Crews succeeds Stephen Klass, who, after serving for four years, accepted the position last summer of Vice-President for Operations at Williams College in Massachusetts.